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Jailbreaking your iPhone
John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | CH | Switzerland | Posted: 4:29 AM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> I know there has been all sorts of talk over the net regarding "jailbreaking" your iPhones but I wanted to know what all of you do. Please tell me if you have hacked your iPhone and if so, any horror stories? The tethering option is too good to pass up but I do not want a $1000 paper weight. If you successfully did it, what are the must have apps? |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | CH | Switzerland | Posted: 5:47 AM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> Dave, I already have the phone but jailbreaking can be done to allow you to install non sanctioned iPhone apps like tethering software so you can use phone as 3G modem. The problem is it voids all warranties. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 8:52 AM on 10.26.08 |
->> I did a jailbreak and unlock on my original iPhone so I could use it with a China Mobile SIM card at the Olympics and had no problems. And that phone is still in use in China with a friend on an extended study trip there. I'm hopping he can sell it for a profit before he returns.
However, on my 3G model I haven't done the jailbreak yet because I simply have no reason to. I have a fast cell card for data so I don't need the tethering option and the other programs you need to have it broken for have not really appealed to me. |
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Jared Wickerham, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Pittsburgh | PA | U.S.A. | Posted: 10:49 AM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> You can reverse the jailbreak though, correct? Since it's simply an internal software change? |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:53 AM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> You can restore to Apple's firmware, BUT some of the jailbreak software reverts the bootloader to an earlier version which can make Apple realize you have played with the phone. |
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Jared Wickerham, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Pittsburgh | PA | U.S.A. | Posted: 12:04 PM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> How do I find out if the jailbreak software reverted the version back or not? |
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Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 12:12 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Jared,
I am curious why you don't just buy the newest iPhone for $199 or w.e - then pay ATT for the service, even if that service costs a more/month... in the short run you save, no? |
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Todd Spoth, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Baltimore | MD | USA | Posted: 12:31 PM on 10.26.08 |
| ->> i have a new 16gb 3g and my roommate does as well. his is jailbroken and he was showing me a lot of neato apps like themes for the phone. one made it look like a vending machine and changed all the icons to icons of snack foods. it made me a little hungry, but in the end i just went and got some chips instead of jailbreaking it. i really dont want to take the chance on a brick. |
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Jared Wickerham, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Pittsburgh | PA | U.S.A. | Posted: 12:57 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Patrick,
It's a long story. It's cheapest the way I'm doing it now. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 1:14 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Why is it OK to do an "end around" with Apple's and AT&T's intellectual property, but it's not OK to grab somebody's image from their website without permission?
Am I missing something?
--Mark |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 1:56 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Hi Mark
I guess it is okay because of the way cell phone companies treat us verizon just slammed me changed my plan without informing me. At&t years ago gave me free nites and weekends, then did not inform me it had ended , as they had promised. They charged me a fortune. My first cell phone company was to have free roaming and long distance then charged me 5 thousand dollars after months of saying they would fix the charges. No i did not pay them but it did affect my credit rating for 7 years. In short there is nothing more screwed up in any buisness -besides hospitals- then screw joe consumer around then cellphone companies, when you act without morales people will treat you the same. |
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Luke Sharrett, Student/Intern
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Norfolk | VA | United States | Posted: 2:44 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Mark,
I think some people would justify it by saying, "i bought the iphone from apple, they got their money, and now i will do whatever i want with my property."
I'm not sure where i stand on the issue myself though. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 3:52 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> Luke,
That's exactly the justification people use when they exceed usage rights with images.
--Mark |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 3:56 PM on 10.26.08 |
->> David,
I don't buy that. Somebody's bad actions toward me don't justify completely separate bad actions by me towards them.
How can we defend the rights to our images if we're willing to play fast and loose with other's intellectual property?
--Mark |
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Christopher Park, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | United States | Posted: 12:34 PM on 10.27.08 |
->> John,
the jailbreak process is extremely easy and if you just follow the instructions there really is no real risk. If all you are doing is jailbreaking the phone the bootloader does NOT change and apple will not know you did anything if you simply restore the device. Sure there are some people who have had problems but im sure they did not follow instructions properly and probably werent too computer savy. All you need to do is download the pwnage tool and check out the instructions they have listed on their website. PDAnet (tethering) makes jailbreaking worth it on its own. Besides that backgrounder is a great app if you use a chat client. Also an app called voipover3g just came out. Supposed to let you use voip clients when not connected to wifi. Useful if you make international calls. Categories is a nice app that lets you group your apps into folders to clean up your screen. |
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 7:51 PM on 10.27.08 |
->> I personally wouldn't be asking advice on how to do something that's potentially illegal in a public forum.
But that's just me.
It's like asking, "Where can I download a hacked copy of CS4?" |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 9:00 PM on 10.27.08 |
->> Mark
I know what you are saying, but I have never seen an industry that is so anti consumer as the cell phone industry. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 10:43 PM on 10.27.08 |
->> I have never seen an industry that is so anti consumer as the cell phone industry.
One could say the same thing about professional photographers. Pay me to take the photos. Pay me to edit the photos. Pay me if you want to use a photo on the web. Pay me if you want to use a photo in print. Want it for the cover? Pay me more. Want to use it for longer than a year? How about internationally? Cereal box? Calendar? Pay, pay, pay.
All are valid reasons when viewed from our side of the fence. From the other side...not so much. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | CH | Switzerland | Posted: 3:04 AM on 10.28.08 |
| ->> Chris, thanks, finally someone answered the question that I started with. Brad, unlocking your phone illegal? I own the phone and can break it if I want, that is why I posted this question. BTW, I have a hacked copy of CS4 if you would like a copy. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 8:34 AM on 10.28.08 |
->> I own the phone and can break it if I want
You own the phone hardware, but you only own a license to the software. Jailbreaking doesn't replace the software with your own, it modifies the existing software to circumvent security, which is in violation of the terms of the license.
If I license a photo to you and send you the file on a CDR, you "own" the CDR, but I still "own" the photo on the CDR. You can scratch up the CDR, break it, even add files to it. None of these things changes the fact that I still own the file on the disc, and you are still bound by the terms of our license. |
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Chris Russick, Photographer, Photo Editor
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St. Petersburg | FL | USA | Posted: 9:59 AM on 10.28.08 |
->> John and Christopher, I appreciate the thread. I've been looking for an iphone to purchase for use on T-mobile. They obviously don't offer an iphone option however if you purchase one second hand, you may register it on their network. It however does need to be "unlocked". Is the unlock done via a "jailbreak"?
thanks all,
Chris |
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Christopher Park, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | United States | Posted: 11:53 AM on 10.28.08 |
->> Chris,
unlocking has always been performed using the same tool you use to jailbreak the phone. however the new phone is not unlockable using software yet. So far the only way to do it is to either buy an unlocked one from abroad or to buy one of the simcards that unlocks the phone. I have no experience myself with the sim card methods but ive heard they do work just fine. A software unlock is very close though. Watch http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ for info on the unlock and jailbreak methods. Let me know if you have any questions, Chris |
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Jean-Pierre Magnan, Photographer
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Trois-Rivières | QC | Canada | Posted: 4:39 PM on 10.29.08 |
| ->> If I jailbreak my phone, will I still be able to buy apps from the App Store ? |
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Christopher Park, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | United States | Posted: 5:23 PM on 10.29.08 |
| ->> yep |
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Chris Stanley, Photographer
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Lansdale | PA | USA | Posted: 5:52 PM on 10.29.08 |
| ->> Wouldn't this thread be better in a cell phone forum? Just because the iphone has a camera don't make it photography. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | CH | Switzerland | Posted: 6:13 PM on 10.29.08 |
| ->> Chris, this has nothing to do with the camera. The point was about the tethering to an MacBook so could transmit when WiFi was poor or unavailable. Don't know if you have looked around or not but 1/3 of all the posts on this site are not directly photography related. Today I see politics, video, unrelated software, cell phones and even your post today about using video editing software. The great thing about being a member here is that there is always somebody else that has been through whatever you can throw out. This is why this small community is great to be a part of. |
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Chris Stanley, Photographer
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Lansdale | PA | USA | Posted: 8:25 PM on 10.29.08 |
| ->> John, you're right. My bad. I should have looked harder at the original post. |
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Michael Myers, Photographer
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Miami Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 10:51 PM on 10.30.08 |
->> Mark,
Maybe the law needs to be changed then? Technically you are correct, but suppose all GM cars came with a restriction that you could only use Shell gasoline in the car?
Many people buy phones nowadays because they want to be able to do far more than just make phone calls. For Apple to say that you "have to" use AT&T is legal I guess, but what if you want to travel overseas and use a local SIM card from India?
I've got a Nokia n95, and Nokia allows me to do anything with the phone I want to (as far as I know). There are no restrictions as to what SIM card I can use, or what applications I can run.
I don't know all the laws and regulations, but Apple saying you can only use AT&T for calls seems as "wrong" as for GM to tell me I could only use a particular brand of gasoline. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 11:32 PM on 10.30.08 |
->> but Apple saying you can only use AT&T for calls seems as "wrong" as for GM to tell me I could only use a particular brand of gasoline.
...or for you to tell a soccer mom that she can't give copies of one of your photos to all of her friends, relatives, and to the nice man at the soccer magazine. She already PAID you for a copy, and SHE'S doing all the work of passing around the photo. You don't have to keep shooting the photo, and it's free to make perfect copies over and over again. Why should you keep getting paid for it?
It's very easy to criticize someone else's revenue model when you're on the other side. |
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Michael Myers, Photographer
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Miami Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 5:53 AM on 10.31.08 |
->> I need to think this out some more.
Suppose Canon and Lexar decided to work together, and Canon said their cameras are ONLY licensed to use LEXAR memory cards, and using anyone else's memory card was not allowed.
I just don't get it. If I want to buy a smart phone, I want it to do the things I need, and telling me I can't use anyone else's SIM card is as realistic as telling me I can't use anyone's memory card other than Lexar.
The obvious answer of course, is to not buy an iphone, which is part of the reason I'm still using Nokia and refuse to play the games Apple seems so set on. If I were to buy an iphone, I'd do so overseas where you can buy unlocked ones with no trouble at all, and which DO work on other networks. Sorry, I'm not going to use an AT&T SIM card to make a long distance call (from India to India) when an Indian SIM card is available with which it's a few cents to make local calls.
For that matter, if I purchase a smart phone, I want to be able to use any software on it that I can legally purchase, which with Nokia means an unlimited choice. I could care less whether the phone manufacturer likes the software or not. Again, one more reason to have nothing to do with the iphone... but if these phones were a bit lower in price, I might buy one over in Asia anyway, just to see what it's like.
David, I know what you're saying, but I don't think it's the same thing. For that matter, probably most soccer moms probably share the photos around anyway, the same way that everyone seems to share the r/c car photos I post on the 'net. 99.999% of them could care less about the quality; they just want a copy, even if it's from a tiny 'jpg' with my name and copyright at the bottom.
However, in this case, I'm potentially a good customer for Apple who might well like to buy an iphone before Nokia comes out with their version, and all these "silly" (to me) restrictions simply tell me to wait until I can get one from someone else. I do like the interface, but all this other stuff is just too much trouble for me to deal with. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 12:45 PM on 10.31.08 |
->> Mike,
If those GM-Shell and Canon-Lexar example really happened, the market would vote by purchasing other products. You have the same choice with the iPhone. The restrictions are part of the product.
--Mark |
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Thomas Boydston, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Conroe | Tx | United States | Posted: 5:24 PM on 10.31.08 |
->> Just one question: Where does Apple lose a customer with people using jailbroken iPhones?
We, photographers, lose customers when our prints are shared and distributed. I sell one copy and 20 appear in the hands of soccer moms.
Apple sells one iPhone to me and I change it for my own and nobody else is affected.
I don't see how the company is hurt by this except they might lose bragging rights in that their software is obviously not the best and most robust. |
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Daniel Bates, Photographer
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Fayetteville | NC | | Posted: 6:04 PM on 10.31.08 |
| ->> AT&T loses the customer. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 6:50 PM on 10.31.08 |
->> Thomas,
Apple has written software/firmware so that it can make deals with partners like AT&T. When an existing partner loses customers it makes future partners less likely to deal with Apple.
--Mark |
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Alex Boyce, Photographer
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central italy | n/a | italy | Posted: 6:53 PM on 10.31.08 |
| ->> do soccer mums really copt the picrure from a print? |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Grand Island | NE | usa | Posted: 1:55 PM on 11.01.08 |
->> "Apple has written software/firmware so that it can make deals with partners like AT&T. When an existing partner loses customers it makes future partners less likely to deal with Apple."
Which many of Apple's customers think they would be better off for.
While illegal, I think jailbreaking is more along the lines of civil disobedience than it is theft. Apple makes hardware that is good for their customers and alliances that are bad for their customers.
When Apple introduced the iPhone it was like selling a revolutionary sports car...with an agreement that the driver not take it over 55mph.
I'm not saying jailbreaking is right. But what do they expect? |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 5:02 PM on 11.01.08 |
->> Some people say the same thing about photographers and their "pesky" rights.
I'm sorry, but I just can't equate cracking a cellphone with a sit-in strike protesting an immoral war.
--Mark |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Live HVN : Work SFO-NYC | | | Posted: 6:18 PM on 11.01.08 |
| ->> You want an unlocked iPhone? Go in eBay and buy an unlocked one from Europe. The iPhone is sold legally unlocked in a number of countries in Europe. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Live HVN : Work SFO-NYC | | | Posted: 6:22 PM on 11.01.08 |
| ->> Oh and the iPhone is sold unlocked in certain Euro nations because selling a locked mobile phone violated those countries communications laws. |
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Susie Lin, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 6:45 AM on 11.02.08 |
->> John,
I have successfully jailbroken my iPhone for T-Mobile. With some help from a friend and online tutorials, it took a couple of hours to find the right files to get the process going. Tethering from my T-Mobile Edge has been surprisingly decent.
From Cydia and Installer(the additional jailbroken 'app store'), here is a list of downloads I have tried:
PDAnet is the program you would want to download for tethering.
Qik, is a video streaming program that is rumored to be available in the iTunes app store soon.
Cycorder, is a video recording application which allows you to record, but I have yet to figure out if it is possible to access the actual video file.
myFox, is a browser with additional functions, like disabling the auto-rotating capabilities on the iPhone to make reading from the browser while laying down much easier.
Winterboard, allows you to change your themes on your iPhone.
The list is endless, there is so many tweaking apps you can download to 'personalize' your iPhone.
A downside I have experienced is that my iPhone occasionally restarts on its own. In the beginning I was a little irritated, but I figured just as long as it turns it back on right away, it isn't that big of a deal.
Hope this helps.
-Susie |
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Michael Myers, Photographer
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Miami Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 9:02 PM on 11.02.08 |
->> It seems to me that when Microsoft appeared to be trying to force users into the IE browser, the government stepped in.
The manufacturers of mobile phones probably should be forced to provide an "unlocked" product at a reasonable price. Of course, they could offer big discounts if you buy the product complete with a two-year contract for some service provider, as they do right now.
As to my (probably silly) GM and Shell, or Canon and Lexar example, Mark, I don't think people would do as you suggest - I think they'd ignore all that, and use what they want. If I had to give you an honest answer, I know I would.
(As to the phones, I'll be in Chennai India in two weeks. if the price for an unlocked iphone was something reasonable, I might be tempted to get one.) |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 7:11 AM on 11.03.08 |
->> Mark Loundy,
I respect your opinion and I ask this question not because I'm sure I am right or know the right answer, but because I really am interested in your thoughts.
Wouldn't the more accurate analogy to people stealing photographs from a website be making unauthorized copies of the iphone software.
If I buy the phone and the software that comes with it and I change my copy of the software, but don't make copies or make the changes available to anyone else, how is that different than buying a copy of a photo and drawing a moustache on the photo?
Jeff |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 5:04 PM on 11.03.08 |
->> Jeff,
If you really want to split analogy hairs, I guess the comparison would be with making an unauthorized derivative work from an image. Either way, it's a copyright infringement.
--Mark |
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Jason Jump, Photographer
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Humble | TX | USA | Posted: 1:53 AM on 11.04.08 |
->> Seems to me there is a bit of an issue in terminology. Or it's possible I have no clue what I'm talking about.
A jailbroken phone is not the same as an unlocked/hacked phone. A jailbroken phone will allow you to load applications that are not "sanctioned" by Apple, but you still have AT&T as your provider, whereas an unlocked phone allows you to use that phone with another service.
One of the negatives about the iPhone is that in it's current state it doesn't allow you to shoot video. It's just a still camera. But with a jailbroken phone you can add a free video app that allows you to shoot video. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Basel | CH | Switzerland | Posted: 5:31 AM on 11.04.08 |
->> Jason,
Thank you. That is exactly why I posted this originally. I had read in many places that Jailbreaking, for the tethering alone, was worth it. I did not ask about stealing software, hacking a phone or 90% of the other rants on this post. I just wanted to know if there was any risk to the hardware by doing so. |
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Phillip Davies, Photographer
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Garden City | NY | US | Posted: 11:11 AM on 11.04.08 |
->> Mark,
When you buy an iPhone, according to this article: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/08/to-unlock-the-i.html it is completely legal to unlock your iphone, because of a "2006 exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act". The article goes on to say, it just might not be legal to distribute the code to do it. There are a number of other articles from different sources that come to the same murky conclusion.
As for jailbreaking an iphone, from what I have seen online, it is also legal, it just voids the warranty.
I'm not an attorney, but from my brief Google search, both of these points are fairly well documented online.
PhilD |
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Christopher Park, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | United States | Posted: 12:55 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Hi John,
Hopefully your original question has been answered. Jailbreaking and Unlocking are completely different arguments! Jailbreaking is very safe for your phone if done right and is very easy to restore if you change your mind. I highly recommend it. PDAnet (tethering program) makes it worth it all by itself. Also simple settings add ons like SBsettings or Bossprefs. There is nothing wrong with jailbreaking your phone. it is simply changing a device you own to how you like it. You are not stealing software or avoiding any charges. If ATT had a tethering option and you chose to jailbreak it for free tethering then it would be a different story, however for some strange reason ATT does not want people to tether with the iphone even though they offer tethering plans for all their other smartphones. Let me know if you have any questions about how the jailbreak process works. Chris |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 7:56 AM on 11.05.08 |
->> " Jeff,
If you really want to split analogy hairs, I guess the comparison would be with making an unauthorized derivative work from an image. Either way, it's a copyright infringement.
--Mark"
I didn't ask to try to split hairs, I really wanted to hear your thoughts. But if the comparison is to making an unauthorized derivative work from an image, I have a follow up question.
If you were only going to display the derivative work in your living room, is it still copyright infringement?
I thought that at least for music you could legally make copies for your own personal use. I seem to remember when cassette tapes came out there was a case that said you could make copies of your albums if the copies were for your personal use.
If I change the software that came with my phone but I don't distribute copies, I just change the software for my personal use, how is that copyright infringement? |
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